Aerial projectile



Sept. 3, 1940.

H. w. OSGOOD AERIAL PROJECTILE Filed April 9, 1940 In venior A iiomey Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

5 ner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character adapted to be driven or propelled by being struck with a golf club.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a projectile of the aforementioned character embodying novel means for stabilizing said projectile in its flight.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a projectile of the character described comprising means for retaining said is projectile at the point at which it strikes the target or other surface.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a projectile of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong,

20 durable, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specifica- 25 tion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of an aerial 30 projectile constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the device.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken 35 substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shaft.

Figure 5 is an,elevati0na1 view of the upper end portion of the device.

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of one of 40 the stabilizing vanes.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a rubber ball I, said ball preferably having the general 45 appearance and size of a golf ball. The ball I has extending therethrough a bore 2. The reference numeral 3 designates a flexible rubber tube having one end portion extending through the bore 2 in the ball I. Mounted in the rubber 50 tube 3 and extending through the ball I is 'a weight 4 in the form of a threaded shank. 0n

. one end of the weight 4 is an integral substantially concave-convex head 5 which is engaged with the ball I. Projecting from the head 5 is 55 an integral point or prong 6. The other end of the weight 4 extends to an intermediate point in the portion of the flexible tube 3 which is free of the ball I and is rounded, as at 'I.

Mounted in the free end portion of the flexible rubber tube 3 is a shaft of suitable material, preferably wood, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 8. The shaft 8 comprises a reduced end portion 9 of uniform diam-' eter which is inserted in the free end portion of the tube 3 and which provides a shoulder III. It 10 will be observed that the free end of thetube 3 abuts the shoulder III. The free end of the portion 9 of the shaft 8 is rounded, as at II, and is spaced from the end I of the weight 4 in the tube 3. The shaft 8 tapers from the shoulder III to its 16 other end.

The shaft 8 is split from end to end thus providing complemental half sections I2. The shaft 8 is further split from its upper end to an intermediate point, as at I 3, thereby providing quarter 20 sections I 4. I

Clamped between the half sections I2 of the shaft 8 between the slots I3 and shoulder I6 is a stabilizing vane I5 in the form of a feather.

It will be observed that the quill I6 of the feather vane I5 is secured longitudinally between the sections I2. A ring or band I1 is forced on the tapered shaft 8 above the vane I5 for clamping the upper portions of the sections I2 together on said vane. It may be well to herestate that the rubber tube 3 clamps the lower portions of the sections I2 together on the vane I5. Mounted in the slots I3 at right angles to the vane I5 is another vane I8. A band I9 on the upper end portion of the shaft 8 clamps the quarter-sections I4 together on the vane I8.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will be readily apparent from a 'consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the projectile is positioned with the ball I lowermost and said ball is then struck with a conventional golf club in an obvious manner. The weight 4 and the vanes I5 and I8 stabilize the projectile in its flight through the air and maintain the ball I with the prong 6 forwardmost. Thus, when the projectile strikes the prong 6 is driven into the target or other surface for retaining said projectile at the point of contact. The flexibility of the rubber tube 3 prevents damage from being sustained by the projectile in the event that the player should top the ball when making the drive or should the rear end portion of said projectile be subjected to shock or strain in any other manner. The thread on the weight 4 materially assists in anchoring said weight in the within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An aerial projectile comprising a ball, a flexible tube mounted centrally in said ball and projecting therefrom, a weight threadedly mounted in the tube, a prong projecting from one end of the weight, a shaft mounted in the tube and projecting from one end thereof, and stabilizing vanes mounted on said shaft.

2. An aerial projectile comprising a rubber ball having a central bore extending therethrough, a flexible rubber tube mounted in the bore and projecting from the ball at one end, a weight mounted in the tube and extending through the ball, a prong projecting from one end of said weight, a shaft mounted in the projecting end portion of the tube, said shaft being spaced from the weight, and stabilizing vanes on said shaft.

3. An aerial projectile comprising a ball, a fiexible tube extending through said ball and having projecting from said head.

4. An aerial projectile comprising a rubber ball having a bore extending therethrough, a flexible rubber tube having one end portion engaged in the bore, a weight threadedly engaged in the rubber tube and extending through the ball, a prong projecting from one end of said weight, a shaft having one end portion engaged in the other end portion of the rubber tube, and stabilizing vanes mounted on said shaft.

5. An aerial projectile comprising a ball, a rubber tube mounted on said ball and projecting therefrom, a shaft comprising a reduced end portion secured in the free end portion of the rubber tube, said reduced end portion of the shaft providing a shoulder, said shaft being tapered from the shoulder to its other end, said shaft further including opposed, complemental half sections, a stabilizing vane secured between said half sections, the half sections having longitudinal slots in one end portion, and a stabilizing vane mount ed in the slots at right angles to the first named vane.

HARRY W. OSGOOD. 

